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Bench planes College Millers Falls

College course: Day 8

Feels like time is fast running out to get this little cabinet up and on it’s legs, but hopefully it will be standing by next week.

I did quite a bit on the connecting rails this week, to join one side panel to the other, but spent the rest of the time smoothing the panels with a nice ‘Millers Falls No.18‘ bench plane.
Millers Falls No.18 bench plane
This plane came in a job lot of tools I bought from a gentleman in Romford last week. A fascinating chap, who used to be a pattern maker for the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham. We spent a good couple of hours chatting and he did me a great deal on a bunch of nice tools.

I ended up selling the plane to a colleague on the course who likes Millers Falls, as I already have a large Stanley jointer, and a Stanley 4 1/2. During the course of the day, Alex sharpened up the iron on the Tormek and got the plane cleaned up. I was lucky enough to have a go with it on my cabinet, and I have to say, it was one of the nicest planes I’ve used. It had a really good heft to it, and with the razor sharp blade, was taking fantastic shavings.

Think I’ll end up looking for another one of these at some point. Millers Falls have been on my radar for a long time, but being US-made, whenever I see one for sale, I usually get put off by shipping charges. Quite how this one ended up being used by a craftsman in Romford, I don’t know. I should have asked!

2 replies on “College course: Day 8”

good work Gary, looking forward to next stage mate,
your right on the millers falls tools quality, I have a great number 24 jointer that I cleaned up it came completely full of rust but you wouldnt know looking at it now, Have sold a few number 14’s I have far to many planes to choose from,
I have a nice millers falls wheel brace the rosewood handle end unscrews to reveal drill bit compartment will have to get a photo for you.

best of luck with the course.

Hey Gary,

Yes, was really impressed. Might start collecting a few Millers Falls items. Big jointer sounds great! No.24 is same size as a Stanley ‘8’ I think?

I’ve just cleaned up Moore & Wright combination gauge, but I’m stumped as to how the protractor part rotates?! This one doesn’t at least…

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